Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, November 11, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
This is a cool story I was honestly not familiar with. It echoes the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, but with a different flavor. In that story, the miracle was more subtle, as were the actions around it. In this story, things are more dramatic—the widow has more agency, a specific job to do to make the miracle happen. It involves the greater community, not just the widow and the prophet. She has to round up vessels from all her neighbors, which they happily give her. Her children keep bringing her the vessels as she pours oil into them from one, small jar, and just keeps on pouring until multiple vessels are full—from that same jar! Can you imagine the awe and wonder in all of them as this profound miracle happened in their midst and saved them from homelessness and destitution?
It’s such an inspiring story of people and God working together in God’s call to care for the marginalized in our communities. Everyone has a part to play, and the results astonish everyone involved. These kinds of things are happening all around us every day in our communities, and there are lots of ways to be a part. How cool is that?
How can I be a part of bringing about the kind of community miracle Elisha performed?
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
